Sele stable folding tent



March 31.. 1925.

F. o. BERG SELF STABLE FOLDING TENT Origina Filed Jan. 12, 1924'INVIENTOR' Merle 0. B62? ATTORN EY illlllHllllllIl 5K sirable.

Reissued Mar. 31, 1925.

UNITED STATES Re. 16,037 PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK o. BERG, on sr-oxANE, WASHINGTON.

SELF STABLE FOLDING TENT.

Original No. 1,502,898, dated July 29, 1924, Serial No. 685,757, filedJanuary 12, 1924. Application for reissue filed August 18, 1924. SerialNo. 732,879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK O. BERG, a citizen of the United States,residing at Spokane, in the county of Spokane and State of Washington,have presented an amended application for reissue of my Patent No.1,502,898, issued July 29,1924, for Improvement in Self Stable FoldingTents, of which the following is an amended specification.

My present invention relatesto improvements in tents of the umbrellatype, and is particularly designed for use by tourists and others as apart of a camp equipment where the ability to fold and 'pack the tentand its frame into small compass is de- The foldable frame and walls ofthe tent are so combined and arranged as to facilitate the erection ofthe tent with an interior space from which poles or posts are eliminatedthus aifording a maximum space for commodious use and accommodations,and a well braced and self sustained structure is provided.

When 1 dismantled, and otherwise, the Walls and frame of the tent areretained in connected relation and are capable of being folded andwrapped into a single compact, bundle which may then be placed in astor-' age bag or receptacle for transportation, as upon an automobile.

The invention consists in certain novel combinations and arrangements ofparts as will hereinafter be more fully and specifically pointed out andclaimed.

In the accompanyingdrawings I have illustrated one complete example inthe physical embodiment of my invention in which the parts are combinedand arranged in accordance with the best mode I have thus far devisedfor practical application of the principles of my invention.

Fig. 1, is a perspective view of a tent embodying the features of myinvention and showing the exterior corner posts and in dotted linesillustrating the interior top frame ofthe tent.

Fig. 2, is an enlarged detail perspective view of a portion of theinterior top frame.

Fig. 3, is a detailed view showing one of the hinge knuckle jointsbetween two sections of one of the exterior corner posts.

Fig. 4, is a detail view partly in section showing the swivel connectionbetween a corner post and the top frame as well as a paratively shortlength pivot joint between the upper section of a post and the swivelbracket.

Fig. 5, is an assembly View in pers ective of the entire supportingstructure or the tent.

Fig. 6, is a detail view showing one seetional post folded upon a framebar as for storing and illustrating in dotted lines the method offolding these elements.

The tent is shaped with a rectangular base and top and tapers upwardly,the four exterior posts 1, 2, 3 and 4, being disposed on converginglines when the tent is erected as in Figs. 1 and 5, wherein the frame isillustrated. Each of these four exterior posts is made up of sections,as 5, for the leg portion resting upon the ground, and 6, for the uppersection, and the adjoining ends of said post sections are provided withsleeves or joint ends 7 and 8, secured to their respective members bypins 9. These joint ends are provided with an offset hinge joint 10, inorder that the adjoining ends of the post sections may squarely abut asin Fig. 3-, to form a knuckle joint. Thus when the sections are adjustedtoward the tent walls they will dead center look into a tent sup portingposition and form continuous posts, as shownin Figs. 1 and 5. When thepost sections are adjusted awa from the tent walls to fold, the knuckleoint permits the sections ,to' be folded into shown in Fig. 6.

At their upper ends, the corner posts are connected with a substantiallyhorizontally disposed cruciform frame, which as shown, is composed ofdiagonally arranged, or radiating frame bars 11, 12, 13 and 14, all ofwhich radiate from a pole supporting or key-member which may taketheform of a bushing 15, in which a center pole of comas indicated at16, is adjustably supporte as by means of a set screw 17 When the tentis to be erected. this center pole is extended upwardly in the bushing15, and is secured by set screw 17 to hold the top of the tent taut andslanted. When the parts are to be bundled or wrapped, this pole 16 maybe released and slipped downwardly in bushing 15, and then again securedby set screw 17 in a retracted position, thereby reducing the size ofthe bundle. 1

The bushing 15 forms the key-member for the supporting structure of thetent, and

parallelism, as

-of the corresponding .p0st,{ so that-thepost telescopic relation inFig.2, engages the central-bushing 15 to sustain the tent againstcollapsing. The

pivot bar of each of the top frame bars telescopes within the open endof apipe section 21, of the topfram'e, and a'set screw 22,-is utilizedto ho'ld the pipe section or tubularmember 21, and the corresponding bar19, in adjusted relation, as shownin .Fig. 4. It will thus be clear thatsections 19 and 21 form lengthwise extensible and contractible arms.

At the outer end of each of the tubula r sections of the frame bars'aplug 23 1s secured, to which -a-swivel bracket '24: is secured. 'T'hB-SWIVBl'bIE LCkBt is carried'atthe upper end of a post section*6to-which it is pivoted on pin 25, and the bracket is -swivelled to plug23 by ascrew 26. The bracket as, best seen in Fig.2, is provided "withside plates or flanges 24" through which -.pivot.pin 25 passes, anditwillbe clear that these flanges permit the: post section 6 to be swungaround parallel with section 5,when the tentis to be packed, and theyalso hold -the posts against lateral displacement when the tent iserected. It will be noted that the swivelled axis, or the axis of screw'26, is sufiiciently angular to the longitudinal axis cannot turn aboutits own axis.

It willbe seen in Fig. -6,'that theijomt between the post sections -'5"and 6, and the joint between post sections -6 and the top frame barsections 21, permit the posts and :the top frame bars to -'be compactly'fo'lded together and arran ed for-storing, andthe etween the %pivotbars 19 and" tubular sections 21, also permits] of aclose arrangementofparts for storing. After the four posts have been folded over on thetop frame bars and these frame bars compacted as-in Fig. 6, thesefourfold'ed devices areswung on thepivots 19"{to'the dottedlinepositionindicated in Fig.6, the

. folded devices being then in the same plane as the longitudinal axisofbushing 15, to

5 form a compact bundle.

'In erectingthe tent, these folded devices "are unfolded ,the four postsproperly-positioned and spaced apart and the wal ls 27 of the tent.assume the shape indicated in Fig. 1. In'addition to the fourwalls' 27,the tent is provided with a top 28 and overhanging edges 28whichextend-down over the upper endsof the tent walls as a shieldandprotection, and a door flap 29, of rectangular 1 shape, is stitched at30, beneath" one of these overhanging. portions 28. The doorflap is ofsufficient area to cover the-door opening 31,shown in dotted 1ines' inFi' ."1,*=-as a cutout in one of the tent walls. The free side edges ofthe flap 29, may be secured by ties or cords '32"t o"suitable fasteningdevices .prpiperly located on the exterior of the tent L T fQMWe ofttent are P erab y fashioned-and then stitched together to form a singlebody, which as shown is located with the frame formedby-the fourexteriorposts -1,-to' 4,. andcord-11oops 83; secured near" the lowercorners ofjthetent body, areslipped I over the-lower ends of 'thefposts,as shown, :"tO support and horizontally distend "or- -spread the tentwalls within ;the 5 structure formed by thepostsfi Thus" all supportingmembers are eliminated from the space usually-occupied within the tent.Additional cords 34, may be used adjacent the knuckle jointsto fastenthetent walls thereto-and 'tohold the joints in the dead center lockedposition shown in Fig. ;1. "Near the juncture'of theside walls withthetent-top, the i tent -'str1'-1.cture is I-provided with .,:grommetsthrough'which the screws 26. pass.

It will thus be seenthatthe frame structure extends through the tent andhas a supporting portion inside the tent and' a supporting *portionoutside-the tent.

The top frame for supportng the tent' top, "and which is enclosedthereby, may form a convenient means for hanging garments whiledressing.

Byiuclin'i'ng the four posts on converging lines, it will be clear thatthe offset hinges of'the knuckle joints, whichare"located at the innersides of the four posts, whenthe tentis erec'ted; not onlypermit theweight of the load to be borne by the squarely abutting ends of thejointsfb'ut-this' location of the hinge 1 joint eliminates thepossibility of thepost-bucklin'g. The loops' and ties that 'bi ndjthetentbody' tothe"posts, hold the body of the tent in properly stretchedcondition andrniaintain the walls taut.

The se of the telescopic sectional bars of the "top frame, permit ofadjustment of the frameto ada-pt it toall sizes of tents as originallymade, and this adjustment may i be taken *up," if required, tocompensate for stretching or shrinkage of'the tent from use.

' By combining the tent body with the tent fra-me meinbers, the twoelements may "be {compactly folded together and then bundled facilityand without the necessity for skilled orexpert attention, T thusrendering the apparatus a convenient and; desirable outfit or equipment'for "the performance of its required functions.

- A very important feature of my invention consists-in making the postsinseparabl'y connected with the radiating arms,'- -the connectioninvolving a pivot, and also pivoting the radiating arms to thekey-member or bushing 15, whereby the frame structure will beinseparable from ground to top of the frame. By means of this novelfeature, one man can easily set up my improved tent, as it will be clearthat when lifting the frame struc ture from bushing 15, the frame cannotseparate under tension. This feature is rendered the more valuable bythe novel feature of making the walls and tent top inseparable from theframe.

It will now be clear by reason of the coaction between the tent body andthe frame, as a direct result of the mechanical connection of the same,that my improved tent is absolutely self stable when set up and willstand rigidly on a bare floor or cement side-walk in the entire absenceof stakes, guy ropes or other auxiliary means.

ile I have shown one specific form of my invention, I do not wish to belimited thereto except for such limitations as the claims may import.

I claim 1. In a folding tent, the combination with tent walls, asupporting frame structure for said walls disposed partly outside ofsaid walls, and means holding said walls and structure together when thetent is folded or upright to prevent loss of parts and preservestability, respectively.

2. In a self stable folding tent, the combination with a top and sidewalls, a supporting frame therefor comprising upright posts outside saidwalls, substantially horizontal bars inside of said top, and meansextending through the tent and connecting the latter with said posts andbars near the juncture of said Walls with said top.

3. In a tent, the combination with a top and side walls, a supportingframe including substantially horizontal bars inside of said top andupright posts outside of said side walls, and swivelled means extendingthrough said tent and connecting the latter with said frame andconnecting said posts with said bars.

4. In combination, a self stable folding tent, and a supporting frameextending through said tent and having a supporting portion inside ofand a supporting portion outside of and connected with lower portions ofsaid tent to retain the latter in a fully spread condition.

5. In a tent structure, a frame comprising a central member, barspivoted to and radiating from said central member, posts in permanentpivotal connection With the outer ends of said bars thereby providing aframe in permanent connection from top to ground,

and a tent in permanent connection with said frame.

6. A folding tent frame including upright post sections, and meanshinging said sections end to end to break joint when adjusted away fromthe walls of a tent and dead center lock when adjusted towards the wallsof a tent.

7. A folding tent including side walls, upright tent supporting postsoutside of said walls, each post having an offset knuckle hingeconstructed to break joint when adjusted away from said side walls tofold and dead center look when adjustedtoward said side walls to supportthe latter.

8. In a tent, the combination with foldable posts and a top framecomprising a central key-member and radiating bars pivoted thereto, of abracket between each post and its complementary radiating bar, saidbracket having a pivotal connection to one member and a permanentswivelled connection with the other member.

9. A self stable folding tent comprising a top and side walls, asupporting frame structure having a tent top supporting portion insideof the top of said tent and supporting posts disposed outside of andadjacent the corners of said tent walls, and means connecting the cornerportions of said tent walls with said posts to hold the tent wallsdistended.

10. In a self stable folding tent, a tent top and side walls, supportingpost's outside of and at the corners of said walls and said posts beinghingedly connected in end to end relation to break joint when adjustedaway from the tent walls and dead center lock when adjusted toward thetent walls, whereby the weight of the tent will act to hold said postsin a dead center locked position.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I hereby aifix mysignature.

FREDERICK O. BERG.

